Stencil-cutting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cutting characters, including letters, numerals, symbols and the like, into suitable substrates, such as stencil paper, cards or tapes, has a plurality of punch pins moveable within a housing between cutting and retracted positions. Corresponding, moveable selector pins are mounted in the housing to control the motion of the punch pins. Appropriate selector pins are actuated to hold selected punch pins which form the desired character in extended cutting positions relative to the housing, and the selected punch pins are actuated to cut the desired character into a substrate. Alternative embodiments employ automated input means for selecting the characters and means for holding the substrate in position and uniformly spacing individual characters and character lines with respect to the substrate.

United States Patent 11 1 De Hart et al. Nov. 6, 1973 1 STENCIL-CUTTING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey 75 Inventors: Guy K. De Hart, Salt Lake City; ExamnePR- Louis K. De Hart, Provo; Ruel R. Attorney-Kay Comaby Clark, Salt Lake City, all of Utah [73] Assignee: Marking Systems, Inc., Salt Lake [57] ABSTRACT City, Utah An apparatus for cutting characters, including letters, Filed: y 14, 1971 numerals, symbols and the like, into suitable substrates, [211 App] NOJ 143,579 such as stencil paper, cards or tapes, has a plurality of punch pins moveable within a houslng between cutting and retracted positions. Corresponding, moveable se- U-S. Cl. lector pins are mounted in the housing to control the [5 l 1 Int. motion of the punch pins Appropriate sglector pins are of Search actuated to elected punch pins form the 234/36 desired character in extended cutting positions relative I to the housing, and the selected punch pins are actu- References Cited ated to cut the desired character into a substrate. Alter- UNITED STATES PATENTS native embodiments employ automated input means 3,215,244 11/1965 Hickerson 197 15 for Selecting the Characters and means for holding the 3 217 40 1 19 5 Bradshaw 97 R X substrate in position and uniformly spacing individual 3,059,750 10/1962 Schnellmann. 197/6 6 characters and character lines with respect to the sub- 3,283,870 11/1966 Gollwitzer 197/6.2 strate. 3,648,816 3/1972 Marinoff 197/62 8 C1aims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENIEDauv 6 ms 3.770.093 sum 1 or 7 INVENTORS GUY K. DEHART LOUIS K. DEHART RUEL R. CLARK 2 M ATTORNEYS PATENTEB NOV 8 I975 SHEET L [If T UUODDDODDDDU ODDDODUDDDDUD OUUUDDUODUUD UUDDUmwUUDDDD INVENTORS GUY K. DEHART LOUIS RUEL K. DEHART CLARK AT ORNEYS PATENTEU NOV 6 I973 SHEET 3 BF 7 INVENTORS GUY K. DEHART LOUIS K. DEHART BY RUEL R. CLARK ATTORNEYS PATENTEU NOV 6 1973 SHEET 5 [IF 7 INVENTORS GUY K. DEHART LOUlS K. DEHART RUEL R. CLARK AT T RNEYS PATENTED NOV 6 I973 SHEET 7 0F 7 INVENTORS DEHART RUEL R. CLARK 1 STENCIL-CUTTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting characters into substrates, such as stencil material and the like.

2. State of the Art Although a variety of devices for cutting stencils are available commercially, all of these devices share one common deficiency which severely limits their effectiveness. The cutting of a pre-selected character or series of characters into a suitable, thin substrate, such as stencil paper or the like, is customarily accomplished by impressing a pre-formed character on the head of a die into the stencil paper to cut away an outline of the character, retaining the necessary reinforcing cross strips in the character outline for strength. The presence of a separate character on each die head requires that the appropriate die head be moved by hand to the cutting position above the stencil paper before the character can be cut my manual force. When the stencil consists of a series of numerals or letters, such as an address, much valuable time is lost in moving the die stamp containing the appropriate character into cutting position. Consequently, there has long been a need for a stencil-cutting apparatus which would provide for rapid cutting of characters in the stencil material, and also for an apparatus to provide automated spacing of individual characters and character lineation on the stencil material.

3. Objectives It was an objective in developing this apparatus to provide a stencil cutter which was capable of rapidly cutting characters and other data into a substrate, and to provide for the rpaid, automated positioning of characters and character lineation on a substrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the disclosed apparatus has the capability of cutting characters, such as letters, numerals, symbols, data, and so forth, into an appropriate, thin substrate, for example, stencil material, tapes, cards, or the like. The apparatus has a character-cutting mechanism which includes a plurality of punch pins mounted in a housing for movement between cutting and retracted positions and a plurality of selector pins mounted in the housing for movement between actuating and non-actuating positions. The selector pins are mounted so that in the actuating positions the appropriate selector pins for forming a desired character are disposed adjacent the corresponding punch pins to lock the punch pins in the extended cutting positions. The non-actuating selector pins are disposed out of the line of movement of the corresponding punch pins, thereby permitting the inactive punch pins, which do not form the character, to move into retracted position. Means are provided for actuating the selector pins and for actuating the extended punch pins to punch them through the substrate to form the character therein.

In a preferred embodiment, input means, such as an electronic keyboard or a computer interface, are provided for determining the desired character to be cut and for signaling the acutating means for the appropriate selector pins. In addition thereto, braking means can be included for holding a sheet of stencil paper or the cutting operation. Automated substrate positioning means can also be included for uniform spacing of characters and character lineation on the substrate.

THE DRAWINGS The best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2, a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3, a side elevation of the apparatus taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; v

FIG. 4, a view of a stencil cut by the apparatus show ing a series of figures cut into the stencil material;

FIG. 5, a front elevation of the apparatus;

FIG. 6, a side elevational section of the apparatus taken along lines 6-6 of-FIG. 2;

FIG. 7, an enlarged partial section of the paperpositioning idler wheels and limit switch;

FIG. 8, a top plan section taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9, an exploded view of the housing for punch pins and selector pins in the cutting mechanism;

FIG. 10, an enlarged side elevational section of the apparatus taken along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 2 showing the cutting mechanism in retracted position;

FIG. 10a, an enlarged partial view of the cutting mechanism as shown in FIG. 10 with the mechanism in cutting position;

FIG. 11, an enlarged partial section showing a punch pin extending from the housing through a series of die plates;

FIG. 12, a schematic wiring diagram of the connections between the electronic keyboard and the solenoids for selecting and cutting the desired character; and

FIG. 13, a schematic wiring diagram of the stencil material positioning-and line-spacing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and 5-8, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 has a cutting mechanism 11 (described in detail hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 9-11) vertically slideably mounted for movement between a retracted position and a cutting position on a pair of dowels 12 rising from the upper surface of an upper punch plate 13. Selector pins disposed within cutting mechanism 11 are connected through thin, stainless steel wires 14 to the actuating means for the pins, which in this embodiment comprises a series of solenoids 15 attached to a solenoid mounting block 16 mounted on one end of a horizontal support frame 17. Horizontal support frame 17 is attached at its other end to one lateral side of the upper horizontal arm 19a of one of a pair of C-shaped supports, 18, 19, having extended respective upper arms 18a and 19a and extended respective lower arms 18b and 19b. Lower arms 18b, 19b extend forwardly along a rectangular base At the forward end of base plate 20, automated input means in the form of an electronic typewriter keybaord 21 is attached for convenient access by the operator of the apparatus. Keyboard 21 is connected by electronic means (described hereinbelow) to solenoids to actuate the appropriate solenoids for forming the desired character in the cutting mechanism.

Cutting mechanism 11 has a vertical punch rod 22 mounted on the upper surface thereof by means of bracket 22a, and is adapted to move the mechanism downwardly into the cutting position. Rod 22 is slideably mounted in a bearing contained in a horizontal bearing block 221; which is secured between the inner surfaces of upper arms 18a and 19a. A generally horizontally'projecting lever 23 is pivotally mounted in a slot at the upper end of rod 22. Lever 23 is fulcrumed on a cross-bracket 24 extending between arms 18a and 19a of the C-supports l8, 19. The forward end of lever 23 is attached to strong spring biasing means 25 extending from lever 23 downwardly to attachment with the forward edge of upper punch plate 13. The other end of lever 23 is attached to a large power solenoid 26 mounted in a box 26a secured above the upper surface of lower punch plate 27'between upper arms 18a and 19a of C-supports 18, 19. it is preferredv to dispose a rubber shock absorbing material 26b between box 26 and a lower punch plate 27. Lower punch plate 27 is horizontally attached to the upper edges of lower arms 18b, 19b of C-supports 18, 19 and forms the lower surface of. chamber 28 for holding the substrate to be cut.

Stencil material, or other substrate to be employed with the apparatus, is inserted into chamber 28 and can be positioned within chamber 28 under the cutting mechanism 1 1 using a paper guide 29 with a handle 30 to move the material forwardly or rearwardly of the apparatus.Paper guide 29 has a pair of horizontal side panels 31, 32 extending along respective lateral sides of lower punch plate 27 and forming the outer lateral limits of chamber 28. Side panels 31, 32 are connected together through lateral paper bridge 29a and are slideably' mounted on a pair of horizontally extending rods 33, 34 which are attached at both ends thereof to base plate 20. Horizontal rod '34 is enclosed with spring biasing means 35 connecting the rearward end of side panel 32 with the rearward end of rod 34 for tensioning paper guide 29 with respect to thecutting mechanism 11. A pair of elongate plates 36, 37 are mounted near respective lateral sides of base plate 20 and enclose the undersides of paper guide side panels 31, 32.

Generally convex panels 38, 39 are disposed on either lateral side of lower punch plate 27 and extend from the outer lateral edges of paper guide side panels 31,32 to the outer lateral edges of base plate 20. A pair of stencil material sensing means in the form of electronic eyes 40, 41 (mounted in upper shields 40a, 41a) and corresponding detectors 42, 43 (mounted in panels 38,39, respectively) are disposed at the respective outer lateral edges of paper guide side panels 31, 32, and are adapted to detect the position of the stencil material as it moves in either direction laterally of the I paper guide 29.

The positioning means for moving stencil paper with chamber 28 laterally of the apparatus in either direction is powered by continuous drive AC motor 44.

Motor 44 is mounted on support panel 44 a at one lateral side of C-support 18, and has a drive shaft 45 angling downwardly, terminating in a beveled gear 46 near the upper surface of upper punch plate 13. Beveled gear 46 engages beveled gear 47 at right angles, which in turn engages a third beveled gear 48 at right angles. Drive shafts 49, 50 extend from gears 47, 48 respectively, along upper punch plate 13 at right angles to each other. Drive shafts 49, 50 are rotatably mounted in bearings contained in bearing blocks 51, 52 and 53, 54 respectively mountednear each end of shafts 49, 50 on upper plate 13. Shaft 49 extends for-- similar to drive wheel 55. Bearing boxes 60, 61 secure shaft 58 to plate 13 permitting rotation of the drive shaft and drive wheel 59. The beveled gears 46, 47, 48, and 56, 57 are arranged so that continuously operating motor 44 rotates paper drive wheel 55 in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front of the apparatus, and rotates wheel 59 in a counter-clockwise direction.

A pair of corresponding idler wheels 62, 63 are disposed respectively below wheels 55, 59 (as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8), and are mounted on the underside of lower punch plate 27 with their circumferential edges extending upwardly through plate 27 intochamber 28.

ldler wheels 62, 63are rotatably mounted on shafts 64,

65 attached to theunderside of plate 27 by means of brackets 66, 67, respectively. F IG. 7 illustrates in detail the construction of the left-hand idler wheel 62 assembly, in which a bar 68 is pivotally attached at one end thereof to rod 64 and at the other end to a curved lever arm 69 which is pivotally mounted at its fulcrum through pin 70 on the side of C-support lower arm 18b. Lever 69"is pivotally connected at its other end to sole noid bar 71 attached to solenoid 72. When actuated, lever 69 raises idler wheel 62 into contact withstencil material 73 in chamber28. In a similar'manner idler wheel 63 is actuated by solenoid 74. The stencil material is pressed between either pair of wheels 55 and 62, or 59 and 63, depending on which idler wheel is actuated, and the continuous rotation of either wheel 55 in the clockwise direction or wheel 59 in the counterclockwise direction moves the material in the left-hand or right-hand direction until the solenoid is deactivated.

' The individual characters on the stencil material, as

shown in FIG. 4, for example, are uniformly spaced thereon by auto'niatedly moving the stencil material a pre-selected distance to the left after each character has been cut into the stencil material. This is accomplished by actuating solenoid 72, which engages idler wheel 62 with the stencil material and left-hand drive wheel 55. After the material has moved the deisred distance, a limit pin 75 extending from the face of idler wheel 62 strikes a limit switch 75a attached to the underside of plate 27, shutting off the power to solenoid 72 and releasing idler wheel 62.. Limit pin 75 can be disposed in any position on the face of idler wheel 62 I so as to vary the time that idler wheel 62 is engaged and Stencil material in chamber 28 is held stationary with respect to the cutting mechanism 11 by automated braking means. In this embodiment (shown in FIG. 6), a vertical braking rod 76 is pivotally mounted near its center on one endof a lever 77, so that as the end of lever 77 is raised or lowered, rod 76 is likewise raised or lowered. The upper end of rod 76 extends through an aperture in plate 27 into chamber 28, and is adapted to engage stencil material in chamber 28 and hold it stationary against the underside of upper punch plate 13 when actuated. Lever 77 is pivotally mounted near its center on the cross-brace 78 extending laterally between arms 18b and 19b of C-supports 18, 19. Spring biasing means 79 connecting lever 77 with cross brace 78 holds lever 77 normally in the lowered position, thereby holding brake rod 76 out of contact with the stencil material. Solenoid rod 80 is pivotally mounted at the other end of lever '77, and extends downwardly into solenoid 81 mounted on the upper surface of base plate 20. Activation of solenoid 81 raises brake rod 76 to engage the stencil material. When the solenoid 81 is released, brake rod 76 springs downwardly out of contact with the stencil material.

In addition to moving the stencil material right or left within chamber 28, the material can be moved rearwardly of the cutting mechanism 11 to place the next character line in proper position beneath mechanism 11. The means for changing lines in this embodiment includes the movement of paper guide 29 controlled by a rack and pinion mechanism. Paper guide side panels 31, 32 are connected at the forward ends thereof through a laterally extending paper bridge 29a to which handle 30 is attached. Paper bridge 29a has a pair of extension members 31a, 32a along the upper surfaces of side panels 31, 32 adapted to function as forward limits against which the stencil material rests when in chamber 28. The rearward ends of side panels 31, 32 have respective rear paper limit members (not shown) which are adjustable forwardly and rearwardly to fit stencil material of varying dimensions. Side panels 31, 32 are slideably mounted on elongate guide support rods 33, 34 with brackets 82, 83. A series of teeth along the underside 'of bracket 83 acts as a rack 84 for a pinion gear 85. The rearwardend of bracket 83 engages spring biasing means 35 for pulling paper guide 29 rearwardly along rods 33, 34.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the means of controlling the rearward movement of guide 29 comprises pinion gear 85 axially mounted on a shaft 86 which is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 87, 88 attached to the upper surface of base plate 20. Pinion gear is so disposed that it engages rack 84 on bracket 83. At one end of shaft 86 a single-ratchet pivot wheel 89 is disposed. A pawl lever 90 is mounted on base plate 20 adjacent pivot wheel 89 providing for engagement of one end of pawl lever 90 with the single ratchet face of pivot wheel 89. The other end of pawl lever 90 is pivotally mounted on pin 91 to base plate 20. A control bar 92 attached to pawl lever 90 extends beyond pivot wheel 89 to pivotal connection with a solenoid rod 93. In operation, solenoid rod 93 is actuated by solenoid 94 mounted on plate 20 to pull pawl lever 90 away from pivot wheel 89, thereby permitting paper guide 29 to be pulled rearwardly by biasing spring 92a for one revolution of pivot wheel 89. Solenoid 94 is released immediately following actuation and biasing spring 92a returns the pawl to contact with pivot wheel 89 to stop the rear- 6 ward motion of guide 29 and the stencil material therein.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, a preferred embodiment of the cutting mechanism 11 .has a housing 95 comprising two cooperating tiered structures. One structure 95a houses the vertical punch pins 96, and the other structure 95b houses the laterally oriented selector pins 97.

The interior face of structure 95a is tiered to cooperatively fit into the corresponding reverse-tiered interior face of structure 95b, shown in FIG. 9 tipped on its side. In each structure there are five tiers 98-, each having seven apertures therein to accommodate a matrix of 35 punch pins 96 in structure 95a and 35 selector pins 97 in structure 95b.

In structure 95a, each punch pin 96 is slideably disposed in a corresponding aperture and extends above the upper surface of each tier 98 to the surface of the next tier when in the cutting position. As shown in FIG. 1 1, a typical punch pin 96 extends downwardly through an apertured punch guide plate 99 attached to the bottom of structures 95a and b, a space 100, a pin stripper plate 101 attached to the upper surface of punch plate 13, a paper stripper plate 102 countersunk in the upper surface of plate 13, and upper punch plate 13. As punch pin 96 extends from structure 95a into guide plate 99, the diameter of pin 96 is reduced somewhat to form a shoulder 96a adapted to rest on the upper surface of guide plate 99. At the underside of plate 99, the diameter of pin 96 is again reduced to form a shoulder 96b. The aperture in pin stripper plate 101is also reduced in diameter to accommodate the reduced diameter of pin 96. At the underside of plate 101 the diameter of pin 96 is increased to form a shoulder 960 which rests against the underside of pin stripper plate 101 when pin 96 is in the retracted position, thereby preventing pin 96 from being withdrawn upwardly from contact with paper stripper plate 102.

The selector pins 97 disposed laterally in structure 95b are adapted to be disposed in an actuated position in space 103 above each corresponding punch pin 96 to prevent pin 96 from moving upwardly into space 103, which is formed between the corresponding tier surface'in structures 95a and 95b. With the appropriate selectorpins 97 in actuated position, punch pins 96 remain in the locked or cutting position and cannot move vertically within structure 95a. Selector pins 97 are connected to respective stainless steel wires 14 which extend laterally through respective apertures in structure 95b to one lateral side thereof. Spring biasing means 104 are disposed within each aperture and are tensioned therein between pins 97 and a spring plate I 105 to hold pins 97 in position over punch pins 96.

Wires14 extend beyond structure 95b through respective apertures in spring plate 105.to solenoid mounting block 16. Each wire 14 is attached to a corresponding solenoid rod 106 which in turn-is attached to a solenoid 15.

In operation, appropriate selector pins 97 within housing 95b are actuated by corresponding solenoids 15 in response to electronic signals from an outside source, such as keyboardZl, designating which pins are to be used to cut the desired character. In this embodiment all selector pins 97 are maintained in position in spaces 103 over the punch pins 96 by tension from spring means 104 until the appropriate solenoids are actuated to withdraw the selector pins 97 from above all punch pins 96, except those pins 96 used to form the character. The reverse combination can be used, if desired, to actuate the appropriate selector pins 97 to move them into position over those punch pins 96 used to cut the character. As cutting mechanism 11 is actuated to cut characters into a stencil material disposed in chamber 28, housing 90 and guide plate 99 move downwardly through space 100 into contact with pin stripper plate 101. The selected punch pins 96 are forced downwardly through plates 101, 102 and 13 into chamber 28 and through the stencil material by the force exerted against the upper end of pin 96 by housing 95 and the side of selector pin 97, as shown in FIG. a. The remaining punch pins 96, which do not have selector pins 97 above them, travel vertically into space 103 when housing 95 is depressed. Following the cutting of the character, housing 95 moves upwardly into its retracted position carrying all punch pins 96 upwardly out of contact with'the stencil material. Paper stripper plate 102 prevents paper bits and pieces from adhering to the punch pins 96; and pin stripper plate 101 catches shoulders 910 of pins 96 to prevent the retracted pins from remaining in space 103 to interfere with the motion of selector pins .97. The punched out paper bits fall out of the apparatus through aperture 106 in base plate directly below the cutting mechanism.

The solenoids are powered through a transformer 107 and a capacitor 108 mounted on base plate 20. The electronic relays and character-selector mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 are mounted beneath shield 38 in a closed housing 109 mounted on plate 20 and connected by lines 110 with the solenoid and keyboard 21.

A typical stencil having several numbers cut therein is illustrated in FIG. 4.'Each character comprises an arrangement of holes cut by the punch pins. The characters are cut individually and can be spaced uniformly and uniformly lineated by automated means herein described. Although the stencil material employed in most commerical applications is a type of specially treated paper, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other suitable materials and other shapes and sizes of materials known in the art can be substituted therefore, including cards and tapes, or thin plastic or celluloid materials. It is contemplated that the apparatus can be employed as a portable unit with or without paper positioning means, or can be permanently installed as part of a continuous operation.

In operating the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the first step is to depress a release button on the keyboard, which releases all of the electronic functions in the apparatus. The paper guide'is moved forward by means of the handle until it reaches the forward end of the apparatus. The stencil board is then manually inserted from the front of the apparatus into the paper guide. The paper positioning button on the keyboard is depressed which actuates the solenoid connected to the right-hand idler wheel. Actuation of the right-hand idler wheel causes the stencil material to engage the right-hand drive wheel, moving the paper toward the right until the left edge of the stencil material passes beyond the left photo cell and the cell is actuated. The right-hand solenoid is immediately deactivated and the paper brake is actuated, causing the paper to stop and to be held in position for cutting the first character.

A series of characters, such as an address, can now be cut into the stencil material. A key on the keyboard corresponding to the desired character is depressed to select the proper selector pin solenoids to be actuated through a Read Only Memory (ROM). The selected solenoids are actuated, removing the undesired selector pins from above the corresponding punch pins.'Immediately thereafter, the large ram solenoid is activated, driving the cutting mechanism downwardly to force the punch pins into the desired character pattern through the stencil material. The power is then cut off from the large solenoid and the 35 selector pin solenoids, and the spring on the lever arm returns the cutting mechanism to its normal retracted position. The power is then released from the paper brake and the left-hand solenoid is actuated to raise the left-hand idler wheel into contact with the stencil material and the left-hand drive wheel, causing the stencil material to move toward the left. As the idler wheel begins to rotate, it trips the arm of the limit switch which immediately turns the power off at the left-hand idler wheel solenoid. The left-hand idler wheel is lowered and the paper brake is actuated to hold the paper in place for the next character key to be depressed.

At the end of a line of characters, a paper return key is depressed which immediately releases the paper brake and releases the pawl lever, permitting the paper guide to travel rearwardly one line. The right-hand idler wheel is then actuated, causing the stencil paper to move toward the right until the left edge of the paper moves past the left-hand photo cell. The right-hand idler is then disengaged and the paper brake engaged. If the stencil material inadvertently travels too far to the left while cutting characters, the right-hand photo cell is actuated and the apparatus will automatically react as if the paper return key had been depressed, returning the stencil material to the right. Upon completion of the stencil, the electronic release key is depressed and the completed stencil can be removed from the apparatus.

The operation of the illustrated apparatus can be controlled either manually or electronically, for example, by a standard electric typewriter keyboard or through a computer interface. The electrical circuitry for the'illustrated embodiment is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In general, this embodiment has a Read Only Memory (ROM) of conventional design in which information relating the desired configuration of punches in the 35v pin matrix to the keyboard key is stored. Generating the desired character through the ROM is a two stage process, in which six binary bits choose the position of the character desired in the ROM and three additional binary bits sequence the seven rows of five bits out of the ROM. Thus, the ROM has nine controlling inputs and five sequenced outputs.

A free-running oscillator continually sequences through the character position count A4 to A9. The continually changing binary count is applied to a digital multiplexer which connects each keyboard key in sequence to a set of control flip-flops. When any key has been depressed, the control flip-flops operate to disconnect the oscillator from the character position counter, thereby holding the count in the counter associated with the depressed key, and attaching the oscillator to the row counter. Appropriate gating means sequence the seven groups of five bits to a 35 bit buffer register. The buffer register drives the selector pin solenoids under control of timing elements which insure the proper sequencing of mechanical events.

FIG. 12 shows the wiring connections and the electronic components for the generation of the desired characters in the illustrated embodiment. The 10 KHZ oscillator is composed of an RC circuit driving unijunction transistor and is free running. With flip-flop FFA off, the oscillator drives the six bit binary counter which, in turn, drives the solid-state multiplexer. The multiplexer sequentially connects each keyboard key circuit, each of which is biased to a positive potential through a resistor, to one shot STRT. If any key has been depressed, STRT turns on briefly, turning on flipflop FFA and flip-flop FFB. FFA disconnects the oscillator from the six bit counter and FFB connects the oscillator to the three bit binary counter. As the three bit counter advances, the character generator (ROM) receives data from the fixed count in the six bit counter, lines A4 to A9, and from the three bit counter, lines A1 to A3. The three bit counter controls the output of the binary to octal converter such that, as the counter advances, it not only sequences the row output in the ROM but gates this row output to the seven buffers. One shots DLl and DL2 control the entry of data into the buffer flip-flops and are necessary to account for delays in the ROM which delay transfer of data from input to output.

When the three bit counter has advanced to the zero position or a decimal count of eight, one shot STOP turns on momentarily and resets flip-flop FFB which, in turn, disconnects the oscillator from the three bit counter. Flip-flop FFB sends a signal to the paper position control circuit (FIG. 13), which returns a low signal on the DRIVE line and a high signal on the COM line. The high signal on the COM line disables the keyboard which prevents re-initiating the above sequence before paper motion is complete.

The DRIVE signal energizes transistors TA and TB. TB, in turn, energizes transistors Tl through T35 in drive circuits 1-35, if they have not been selected by the buffers. .This is necessary because of the mechanical configuration of the punch pins and selector pins as described hereinbefore. Transistors Tl through T35 energize slide solenoids S1 S35.

The counters and flip-flops remain in the above condition until the paper motion is complete, which is indicated to this circuit by the return of the COM line to a low signal. When this occurs, the depressed key, if not already released, must be released before any other or the same key can re-initiate the character generation sequence. This is assured by the presence of one shot STRT which turns on from the leading edge of a ke signal only.

If a computer is employed as the input feed means, the computer circuits are gated in as indicated by the asterisks in FIG. 12. The computer simply takes over control lines A4 to A9 and replaces the input to one shot STRT with a programming control input. The computer senses paper motion completion by monitor-. ing line COM. Two keys can be placed on the keyboard to transfer gating to the keyboard or to the computer. The computer can also transfer gating to itself under program control.

FIG. 13 illustrates the wiring diagram for the positioning of the stencil paper. A signal on the FFB line opens gate G causing one shot OSA to turn on momentarily. At its conclusion, one shot OSB turns on momentarily. At its conclusion, one shot OSC turns on momentarily. At its conclusion, one shot SP turns on momentarily. During the on time of OSA and OSB, the drive signal is returned to FIG. 12, causing the appropriate slide solenoids to energize. During the on time of OSB, the RAM is energized by a solid state triac and punches the character in the paper. During the on time of OSC, the solenoids and the RAM are allowed to release. One shot SP turns on flip-flop DL which starts the paper driving left. The paper continues to drive until the character space wheel limit switch operates to release flip-flop DL, completing the cycle.

During the operation of flip-flop DL, the BRAKE solenoid is released as a result of the connection of gate G3 to the flip-flop DL. Also, transistors T1 and TH are energized during the entire sequence because of the connections between the gate G7 and one shots OSA, OSB, OSC, and gate G3. These transistors cause dis-' abling of the entire keyboard except for the PAPER IN PLACE key. The SPACE key causes the above sequence partially to repeat by operating flip-flop DL.

The loading sequence is initiated manually by depressing the LOAD key which turns flip-flop LOAD to the on state. This flip-flop releases the brake through gate G3 and locks out the keyboard through gate G7. Paper may now be inserted into the machine. After the paper is positioned properly, the PAPER IN PLACE key is depressed which resets flip-flop LOAD and sets flip-flop DR. Flip-flop DR causes the paper to drive right until the paper left edge photo cell circuit resets flip-flop DR. At this point, the brake is energized and the keyboard is activated and punching may begin.

When the RETURN key is depressed or the END OF LINE photo cell is activated, line advancing occurs by setting one shot LF momentarily from the RETURN key or by setting one shot EOL through gate G4. One shot LF releases the rachet on the paper guide, allowing the paper to advance to the next line. As one shot LF releases, one shot OSD turns on momentarily and delays the lateral paper motion until the paper has settled properly on the newline. When one shot OSD turns off, flip-flop DR turns on and paper drives right as described above.

Whereas this invention is illustrated and described herein-with respect to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that many variations are possible without departing from the inventive concepts particularly pointed out in the-claims.

We claim:

l. Stencil-cutting apparatus, .comprising in combination:

a sixsided housing;

a plurality of elongate punch ,members slideably mounted in the housing for reciprocal movement along a first longitudinal axis between a retracted position within the housing and a cutting position in which at least a portion of the elongate punch member extends from a first side of the housing,

' said plurality of punch members being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows across the first side of the housing; with a plurality of punch members in any one row being the same length, and each successive row from one edge of the first side to the opposite edge thereof containing increasingly longer punch members respectively;

a plurality of elongate selector members corresponding in number to the plurality of punch-members,

r l l the selector members being slideably mounted in the housing for reciprocal movement between actuating and non-actuating positions along a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis of the punch members; said selector members being arranged in a plurality of parallel tiers across a second side of the housing adjacent to the first side; each tier containing a plurality of selector members and being ina cooperating relationship with a corresponding row of punch members, so that in the actuating position each selector member holds a corresponding punch member extended in the cutting position, and in the non-actuating position each selector member permits the corresponding punch member to recede into the retracted position within the housing;

means for selecting an arrangement of selector members for forming a pre-determined character with the corresponding punch members;

means for activating the selected arrangement of selector members to place the selector members in the actuating position with respect to the corresponding punch members; and

means for moving the housing in one direction along the first longitudinal axis so that an arrangement of punch members, corresponding to the arrangement of selector members, disposed in the cutting position can be punched through an appropriate stencil substrate to form a pre-determined character in the substrate.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for moving the housing comprises a solenoid.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim-1, wherein the means for actuating the selector members comprise a plurality of solenoids 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for selecting an arrangement of selector members to form a predetermined character comprises a keyboard having appropriate keys for each of the pre determined characters to be punched into a substrate.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means disposed between the first side of the housing and a stencil substrate for removing reviewing adhered particles of substrate from the punch members following the punching of. the predetermined character into a substrate.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for holding a substrate stationary with respect to the housing when the predetermined character is punched into the substrate, and means for uniformly laterally spacing each character on a substrate.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for determining when one edge of a substrate is positioned at a predetermined point in relation to the punch members and means for determining when the opposite edge of the substrate is at a second predetermined point with respect to the punch members.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for-moving a with respect to the punch members substrate to uniformly space lines of characters as punched into a substrate by the punch members. 

1. Stencil-cutting apparatus, comprising in combination: a six-sided housing; a plurality of elongate punch members slideably mounted in the housing for reciprocal movement along a first longitudinal axis between a retracted position within the housing and a cutting position in which at least a portion of the elongate punch member extends from a first side of the housing, said plurality of punch members being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows across the first side of the housing; with a plurality of punch members in any one row being the same length, and eAch successive row from one edge of the first side to the opposite edge thereof containing increasingly longer punch members respectively; a plurality of elongate selector members corresponding in number to the plurality of punch members, the selector members being slideably mounted in the housing for reciprocal movement between actuating and non-actuating positions along a second longitudinal axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis of the punch members; said selector members being arranged in a plurality of parallel tiers across a second side of the housing adjacent to the first side; each tier containing a plurality of selector members and being in a cooperating relationship with a corresponding row of punch members, so that in the actuating position each selector member holds a corresponding punch member extended in the cutting position, and in the nonactuating position each selector member permits the corresponding punch member to recede into the retracted position within the housing; means for selecting an arrangement of selector members for forming a pre-determined character with the corresponding punch members; means for activating the selected arrangement of selector members to place the selector members in the actuating position with respect to the corresponding punch members; and means for moving the housing in one direction along the first longitudinal axis so that an arrangement of punch members, corresponding to the arrangement of selector members, disposed in the cutting position can be punched through an appropriate stencil substrate to form a pre-determined character in the substrate.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for moving the housing comprises a solenoid.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for actuating the selector members comprise a plurality of solenoids.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for selecting an arrangement of selector members to form a predetermined character comprises a keyboard having appropriate keys for each of the predetermined characters to be punched into a substrate.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means disposed between the first side of the housing and a stencil substrate for removing reviewing adhered particles of substrate from the punch members following the punching of the predetermined character into a substrate.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for holding a substrate stationary with respect to the housing when the predetermined character is punched into the substrate, and means for uniformly laterally spacing each character on a substrate.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for determining when one edge of a substrate is positioned at a predetermined point in relation to the punch members and means for determining when the opposite edge of the substrate is at a second predetermined point with respect to the punch members.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for moving a with respect to the punch members substrate to uniformly space lines of characters as punched into a substrate by the punch members. 